Kokrad von falkenhausen



(No Model.) I x K. VON FALKENHAUSEN. FIRE PROOF CURTAIN FOR THEATERS. No. 259,063. ,I f Patented June 6, 1882.

2 5 secured to the strong water-pipe a by means of UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KONRAD VON FALKENHAUSEN, OF WALLISFURTH, NEAR GLATZ, GERMANY.

FIRE-PROOF CURTAIN FOR THEATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,063, dated June 6, 1882,

Applicationfiled March 7,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KONRAD VON FALKEN- HAUSEN, asubject of the Emperor of Germ any, and resident of Wallisfurth, near Glatz, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Fire-Proof Curtain for Insulating the Stage in Theaters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fireproof curtains for insulating the stage in theaters; and the object of my invention is to make a fire -proot' curtain of sail-cloth, which, by means of water flowing through the curtain, becomes as proof against fire as a metallic curtain. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying; drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of the entire mechanism; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the curtain;

Fig. 3, a front view of the mechanism for winding up the curtain; and Fig. 4, a front view of the curtain.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The curtain is composed of an inner net, d,

a rope, c, and a wrappin g of sail-cloth, e, which covers the water-pipe a and both sides of the net 01. The water-pipe aextends over the Whole breadth of the stage, and may be supported in any convenient manner. The wrapping of said cloth 6 is fastened to the net d by means of the cross-stitches a, made over the knots of the net 01. The lateral edges of the curtain are closed by means of seams, while the lower edge of the curtain rests open. By opening a conveniently locatcd cock or valve the water furnished by a conduit enters the pipe a, passes through the holes 14 of it, circulates in the interior of the curtain and flows oil" through the lower open edge of the curtain. The stream of water which makes the curtain fire-proof serves also for automatically bringing down the curtain in the moment of danger ot'fire,and for insulating by so doing the stage. For this purpose the curtain is, Figs. 1 and 3, wound round a roller, m, by means of the crank i, the pinion 7c, and the cog-wheel l. Hereafter the pressure exercised by the plumber-blocks of the bearings h upon the shaft 9 of the roller is so regulated that the rollerm may still be turned by little l'orce. At the entrance of danger of fire the water-cock is opened and the water enters the curtain. The hereby rapidly-increased weight of the curtain causes the roller m to turn, whereby the curtain is wound off and drops.

I am aware that prior to my invention fireproof curtains for insulating the stage of theaters have been made. I therefore do not claim such a combination, broadly; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a fire-proof curtain for insulating the stage of theaters, of a net d, attached by the rope c to the water-pipe a, with the cover of sail-cloth 0, all substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a fire-proof curtain for insulating the stage of theaters, composed of the net d, the cover e, and the water-pipe a with the roller m, round which the curtain may be wound, all as and for the purpose specified.

KONRAD FREIHERR VON FALKENHAUSEN.

Witnesses ARTHUR GEnsoN, FRANZ Pos'rAWKA, 

